Dr. Jennifer Beseres Pollack is a marine biologist and the Chair for Coastal Conservation and Restoration at the Harte Research Institute. She was born in Minnesota and grew up surrounded by lakes, which sparked her interest in nature and ecology. She pursued her undergraduate degree in environmental science at Northwestern University, where she carved out a niche for herself within ecology. Dr. Pollack gained a variety of experiences through internships, including one in marine science that solidified her love for the field.

Emilie Payne is a dedicated birder, conservationist, and former Audubon warden based in Texas. She moved from San Antonio to Corpus Christi in 1960, bringing with her a copy of the Roger Tory Peterson Field Guide to Birds. Her passion for birding was ignited in 1961 when she and her daughter attended a bird walk in Blucher Park, where they experienced a fallout, a day when the park was filled with a variety of birds. Payne's interest in birding quickly grew into a lifelong commitment. She and her daughter joined the Audubon Outdoor Club and participated in the Christmas bird count].

Ed Bradley is a former marine biologist who worked with Texas Parks and Wildlife. Born in Hot Springs, Arkansas, Bradley's early life was marked by frequent moves due to his mother's work as a waitress. His interest in marine biology was sparked by a high school counselor in Corpus Christi, Texas, where he spent most of his childhood and attended college at the University of Corpus Christi. Bradley's career took a turn when he accepted a job as a newspaper distributor, a position he held for about nine years. During this time, he met his wife, Sue, through a mutual friend.

Dr. Donna Shaver is a renowned wildlife biologist who has dedicated her career to the preservation of endangered species, with a particular focus on Kemp’s ridley sea turtles. She grew up in upstate New York, where her early interest in wildlife biology was influenced by her grandfather's love for nature and his saltwater aquariums. Dr. Shaver attended Corcoran High School and later pursued her undergraduate studies at Cornell University, where she majored in traditional wildlife biology. However, her passion always lay in the recovery efforts of threatened and endangered species.

Dennis Burk is a former volunteer at the Texas State Aquarium and a passionate environmentalist with a diverse background. Born and raised in the Midwest, specifically Wisconsin, Burk developed an early interest in water sports due to the abundance of lakes in his home state. His love for water led him to move to Corpus Christi, Texas, in 1979, where he worked as a service advisor at Tradewinds Ford. Burk's adventurous spirit led him to sell all his possessions and embark on a six-and-a-half-month cycling trip around Europe with a Canadian nurse he met in Corpus Christi.

Dr. David McKee is a biologist with a deep-rooted history in fishing, hunting, and outdoor activities, primarily in South Texas. Raised by his grandparents and mother, he was taught to fish, hunt, shoot, braid leather, sharpen knives, and train dogs by his grandfather, a long-serving South Texas sheriff. His upbringing was deeply influenced by his family's connection to the outdoors and law enforcement, which included unique experiences such as training bloodhounds to track prisoners for exercise. Dr.

Dr. Dara Orbach is a marine mammal biologist with a unique journey into the field. Unlike many of her peers who knew from a young age that they wanted to work with marine mammals, Dr. Orbach's path was more indirect and driven by her love for the coastal lifestyle. Originally from Toronto, Canada, she completed her undergraduate studies at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, where she fell in love with the coastal way of life.

Cindy Loeffler is a seasoned hydrologist with a rich background in water resources and environmental conservation. Born in Colorado, she spent her early life moving around different states, including Virginia, Wyoming, Louisiana, and finally Texas, due to her father's work with the U.S. Geological Survey in water resources. Her interest in water and environmental conservation was sparked at a young age, with her family's connection to water resources and her personal experiences playing around water.

Chuck Naiser, a native of Mobile, Alabama, was born during World War II at Brookley Air Force Base. Shortly after his birth, his family moved to Texas, where he was raised in a small town called East Bernard, a German-Bohemian Czech farming community outside of Houston. His father, who was the superintendent of the schools, was a significant influence in his life. Naiser grew up hunting, fishing, and being a diligent student, activities that were encouraged by his father. His early fishing experiences were primarily with farm ponds and creeks, where he fished for catfish and bass.

Captain Billy Sandifer was a renowned conservationist and environmentalist based in Flour Bluff, Corpus Christi, Texas. He was adopted and raised by his grandparents on a 368-acre farm southwest of Agua Dulce, Texas, where he learned the value of hard work from a young age. His early life was marked by labor-intensive work, including picking cotton in the fields alongside migrant workers. Sandifer served in Vietnam in 1966, 1967, 1969, and 1970, where he was exposed to Agent Orange, leading to several health issues in his later years.